LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

MANCHESTER VELODROME

The National Cycling Centre – to give it its proper name – offers an hour-long taster session at least once a day. You can check timetable and kit requirements at nationalcyclingcentre.com

DERBY VELODROME

Taster sessions at the UK’s newest velodrome, opened in 2015, currently take place on Mondays, Saturdays and Sundays, with a female-only session on Fridays. More details at derbyarena.co.uk

GETTING THERE

Mainline railway stations serve both cities. If you’re finishing in Derby as we did, there are regular services back to Manchester (last one 21.44), though all require at least one change of train.

WHERE TO STAY

For this ride we based ourselves in Manchester, staying in the city centre on a luxury canal barge, the Castle Rose. Moored a short distance from numerous pubs, restaurants and other attractions, the boat sleeps up to six and is only a few miles’ ride along the canal towpath from the National Cycling Centre. Details and prices at boatstay.co.uk

FOOD AND DRINK

The Velopark Cafe at the National Cycling Centre is a great place to fuel up before the ride, and you may just find yourself rubbing shoulders with a current or future star of Team GB.

En route, we enjoyed a warm welcome, great coffee and tasty mince pies at the Grasshopper Cafe on the main road through Hope. Back in Manchester, the Wharf pub near our barge accommodation offers a reasonably priced selection of meals, beers and wines.